Numerous things can cause your teeth to lose their luminosity. Tooth discoloration turns your white teeth to various colors or develops spots in several places.
Causes of Tooth Discoloration
- Foods/drinks. Tea, coffee, colas, tomato sauces, soy sauce, wines, chocolates, or popsicles are known villains of teeth staining. Also, fruits and vegetables like apples, berries, and potatoes may stain your teeth enamel. However, we do not suggest you stop eating these foods entirely. Just be aware and consume these foods in moderation. Make sure that you rinse/brush your teeth after meals.
- Tobacco. Smoking or chewing tobacco stains your teeth.
- Poor dental hygiene. When you do not brush, floss, or rinse properly to remove stain-producing substances, it causes discoloration. Whenever you skip your dental cleanings, you allow stains to start.
- Disease. Conditions like metabolic diseases, calcium deficiency, liver disease, and eating disorders, impact the tooth enamel and can change the tooth color. Neck radiation and chemotherapy can also lead to teeth discoloration.
- Medications. The antibiotics tetracycline and doxycycline stains teeth when given to kids whose teeth are still developing. Antipsychotic drugs, certain mouth rinses/washes containing chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride also cause teeth stains.
- Dental materials. Some of the materials used in dentistry, such as amalgam restorations, may leave a gray-black color to teeth.
- Aging. As you age, the outer layer of enamel slowly wears away. This reveals the normal color of dentin.
- Genetics. Sometimes, your heredity is responsible for your teeth color!
- Environment. Excessive fluoride from water, fluoride-containing toothpaste, rinses, or even supplements can cause teeth discoloration.
- Trauma. Damage from a fall can hinder enamel formation in kids whose teeth are still developing. It also causes discoloration to adult teeth.
Tooth discoloration types
- Yellow: As you age, the white enamel of your teeth may start to wear down. The yellow core of teeth turns more visible.
- Brown: Dark beverages, tobacco, and poor brushing habits may make teeth brown.
- White: As young teeth develop, excessive fluoride can cause white spots.
- Black: Tooth or tooth pulp necrosis may transform your teeth to grayish or black. Fillings and crowns that consist of silver sulfide also make teeth black. Exposure to minerals such as iron, manganese, or silver may result in a black line on your teeth.
- Purple: Red wine can stain your teeth by turning them purplish.
Treatments
Treatment options can differ as it depends on the cause of the discoloration. This includes:
- Using over-the-counter whitening agents of course with the dentist’s recommendation.
- In-home whitening kit purchase from your dentist or in-office whitening.
- Bonding.
- Veneers.
Now, if you’re in the search of a ‘Dentist near me’ in McMurray, PA, for your teeth whitening or other quality dental work then call us at Omni Dental McMurray. Our McMurray Dentist will provide you the treatment you require.